New Delhi, Oct 13(ANI): A ministerial committee led by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, set up to look into the armed forces' grievance about pay anomalies, is likely to sort out the matter soon.

Mukherjee, who heads the three-member committee, said on Monday that he had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony.

"Shortly, I am going to discuss with the Finance Minister P Chidambaram," he told reporters here when asked about the issue.

Without giving details of his discussions with the Prime Minister, Mukherjee merely said: "I do hope we will be able to sort out the issue shortly."

The Prime Minister set up the committee, which also includes Antony and Chidambaram, on September 25 in the wake of deep resentment in the armed forces, who complained that there were "anomalies" in the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and that it had lowered the status of their officers.

After the government notification was issued on August 29, the issues of anomalies in the pay for officers was first raised by Air Chief Fali Homi Major in his letter in his capacity as acting Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC).

Chiefs of Navy and Army too have been voicing their resentment.

Antony has strongly favoured resolution of core issues raised by the three services chiefs in their representation to the government. (ANI)

Itis high time for the Governament to resolve the issue of anomolies of pay fixation of defence personnel. They have to suffer, de-moralize and to draw pay at the mercy of them? they are the suffers in all aspects-children education, family life,sacrificing relatives etc for the sake of the nation rather we can say to keep guard the safety of the governament and they neclet " The Armed Forces" and their "WELFARE" should it be taken as pride by the poor "Soldiers" the benifits of the pay commission are taken by the civilians and they enjoyed the Diwli gift but what about the Serving and the retired soldiers?. Nothing heard till date and every day they eagerly watches new papers, TV etc but .......BLANK. Should it be taken as pride? What is the three cabinet ministers committee doing? they are unable to give solution to the points projected to them and still we consider them they are great leaders for us. " Jaihind"

Rohan

November 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM

It is such a shame that the committee of three most powerful ministers could not resolve the issue within the stiputlated one month.
Just goes to show that armed forces were always correct in civil services playing foul.
Even the political leadership cannot rein in this beauracracy. it is time that political leadership saw the current situation and took remedial measures. Or is it asking for too much from the current dispensation?

Col (Retd) I D Sharma

October 28, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Sir, I have been screening the Net for any news about award of 6h CPC for pensioners for pre 1996 Army retirees. Till today the day of 'DIWALI' but sorry to say I have not come across any News Item regarding any decision arrived at or any Notification issued in this regard, so much so the 2nd Special Army Instruction (SAI) is totally silent about rate of pensions & arrears.Looks like the govt has forgotten us.Is this the price we have to pay for being disciplined veterans? Is this a happy Diwali or a Dark Diwali? Thank you all the members of Ministerial commitee for totally ignoring us. Do you want all of us to behave like Trade union members to resort to take to Roads to block them throughout whole nation and cause havoc all around? May be this is the only language is understood now-a-days.Jai Hind.

abalkiah

October 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Now, let's see what MR FM has to say. He is more eager to snatch from than to give anything to anybody to fill his tax busket.